"I didn't know it would have such an impact" says Serena Williams on highly debated Roland Garros catsuit still discussed today

Tennis legend Serena Williams is known for her fashion acumen off the court. However, the WTA superstar turned heads when she opted to sport a catsuit outfit at the 2018 French Open.

Williams was returning from maternity leave, having given birth to first daughter Olympia a few months earlier. The 23-time Grand Slam champion later disclosed that the skintight outfit served a serious purpose, as it assisted her with blood circulation after a difficult childbirth.

Although several fans and players admired the bold outfit, French Tennis Federation President Bernard Giudicelli said that Roland Garros would be introducing a dress code soon after. This move would effectively ban Williams from wearing the outfit at any future French Open tournaments. 

“It will no longer be accepted,” Giudicelli said of the catsuit at the time. “One must respect the game and the place.” 

The decision and Giudicelli’s comments drew widespread criticism, with tennis great Billie Jean King posting on social media that the “policing of women’s bodies must end.” However, Williams herself said she had no issue with the decision and comments made by Giudicelli.

“I didn’t know it would have such an impact,” Williams said in an interview with CNN. “Here I am, just trying to be healthy, I was a new mom and just trying to be me. It was a great moment. I didn’t know it would cause such a stir."